Angioedma is a group of disorders with multifactorial etiology but a similar clinical expression, is characterized by swelling of subcutaneous or submucosal tissue. Systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) is a chronic multi-systemtic disease characterized by inflammation and tissue damage resulting from deposition of auto-antibodies and immune complex. We experienced a case of angioedema which was the first manifestation of SLE in 24-year-old female patient. She had suffered from severe facial edema and multiple lymphadenopathy for six months and she also had pleural effusion, positive anti-nuclear and anti-DNA antibody test. Marked decrease of C3 and C4 levels was noted with normal antigenic level, and activity of Cl esterase inhibitor. The angioedema was not improved with anti-hitamine agents and instead disappeared with use of corticosteroid and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Complement levels normalized after corticosteroid treament. We report a case of SLE which initial manifestation was angioedema.
Angioedema ; Antigen-Antibody Complex ; Complement System Proteins ; Edema ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Pleural Effusion ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Hearing*

PURPOSE: There were many studies for adverse effects of carbon dioxide insufflation for laparoscopic cholecystectectomy, mainly focused on cardiovascular and respiratory system. The use of low pressure pneumoperitoneum has been shown to reduce adverse hemodynamic effects. However, its effect on tissue trauma & postoperative pain remains controversial. The aim of this study was to compare postoperative pain intensity between different insufflation pressures in laparoscopic cholecystecetomy. METHODS: We randomly allocated fifty four patients to 7 mmHg (LC7), 9 mmHg (LC9) and 12 mmHg (LC12) pneumoperitoneum group and examined operation time, postoperative pain intensity using visual analogue scale, amount of administered analgesics and complications prospectively. RESULTS: The characteristics of the patients were similar among groups. The procedure was successfully completed in all patients in the LC12 gruop, but in five patients of LC7 group and one patient of LC9 group the insufflation pressure was increased to 12 mmHg to complete the operation. There were no significant difference in postoperative pain scores, analgesic comsumptions among groups. There were difficulties to get a safe hemostasis and to create a adequate working space at acute cholecystitis in LC7 group. CONCLUSION: In our study, there was no superior advantage for postoperative pain when low pressure pneumoperitoneum was applied.
Analgesics ; Carbon Dioxide ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic* ; Cholecystitis, Acute ; Hemodynamics ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Insufflation* ; Pain, Postoperative* ; Pneumoperitoneum ; Prospective Studies ; Respiratory System

PURPOSE: Pancretojejunostomy leakage is the most dreaded complication after a pancratoduodenectomy. However, little is known about what causes the leakage and how to prevent it. The aim of this study was to dentify the risk factors for pancreatic leakage. This paper describes our experience of its management. METHODS: Between Aug. 1996 and Aug. 2003, 75 consecutive patients with periampullary cancer or benign disease received a pancreatoduodenectomy. The patients' clinical characterisitcs, pathological features and surgical findings were retrospectively evaluated. The patients were classified into those with major complication and rhose with no complications and the risk factors were analyzed. Pancreatic leakage, intraabdomnial fluid collection and abscess, intraabdomnial bleeding were categorized as major complications related to a pancreatic fistula. RESULTS: The postoperative mortality and morbidity rate was 2.6% and 36%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that the pancreatic texture, pathologic diagnoses and comorbidity were significant risk factors for major complications (P= 0.003, 0.045, 0.02). Multivariate analyses revealed that the, pancreatic texture was the only significant risk factor (P=0.003). The preoperative serum albumin level and pancreatic texture were significant risk factors for pancreatic leakage (p=0.03, 0.025) and multivariate analysis showed that the pancreatic texture was also the most significant risk factor. CONCLUSION: Considering that the pancreatic texture is the most significant risk factor for a pancreatic fistula, the technical skill and experience of the surgeon appears to be important for its prevention.
Abscess ; Comorbidity ; Diagnosis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Mortality ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pancreatic Fistula* ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Serum Albumin

PURPOSE: Operative management of acute cholecystitis in aged patients has been shown to have relatively higher morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine appropriate management protocols for acute cholecystitis in those more than 70 years old. METHODS: From May 2003 to Dec 2009, we performed this study of patients over 70 years old that were diagnosed with acute cholecystitis (n=257). We excluded patients that had a hepatobilliary malignancy, a previous laparotomy history, secondary cholecystitis, or a high operative risk factor (n=78). Eligible participants were divided into two groups according to the first management of acute cholecystitis. One hundred two of the 179 (group A) had undergone a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) or open cholecystectomy (OC) within 48 hr after arriving at the emergency room; 77 of the 179 (group 2) had PTGBD done as the first management protocol. We divided group 2 into group C (n=47) and D (n=30) according to cholecystectomy or not. We compared clinical outcomes of the two groups. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 77.5 years old (102 for Group A and 77 for Group B. Univariant analysis of pre-operative clinical findings between groups A and B showed a significant difference only in age and in type of acute cholecystitis, However, the pre-operative co-morbidity of group B was significantly higher than that for group A. Comparing postoperative results between groups A and C, postoperative complications, open conversion rate, and mortality after cholecystectomy were not significantly different. CONCLUSION: PTGBD could be considered as appropriate management in aged patients with acute cholecystitis. Moreover, PTGBD can reduce unnecessary cholecytectomies.
Aged ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic ; Cholecystitis ; Cholecystitis, Acute ; Drainage ; Emergencies ; Gallbladder ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Postoperative Complications ; Risk Factors

It is known that most of the extrahepatic metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma occurs through the blood stream and the most frequent target organ is the lung. Intraperitoneal metastasis via the lymphatics is rare (2~16%) and this has been largely demonstrated by laparosopy or on the autopsy findings. Especially, omental metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma has only been rarely reported on. A 62-year-old male patient who underwent TACE for hepatocellular carcinoma was admitted for an emergency operation for hemoperitoneum. On the operative findings, there were two 1.5 by 3 cm-sized masses in the omentum and one of them was ruptured and bleeding. The masses were diagnosed as metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma on the pathologic examination. The patient recovered and is being followed.
Autopsy ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Emergencies ; Hemoperitoneum* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Omentum ; Rivers ; Rupture, Spontaneous*

PURPOSE: To investigate the chemotherapeutic effect of quercetin against cancer cells, signaling pathway of apoptosis was explored in human pancreatic cells. METHODS: Various anticancer drugs including adriamycin, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and gemcitabine were used. Cell viability was measured by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphe-nyltetra zolium bromide assay. Apoptosis was determined by 4'-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole nuclei staining and flow cytometry in PANC-1 cells treated with 50 microg/mL quercetin for 24 hours. Expression of endoplas mic reticulum (ER) stress mediators including, Grp78/Bip, p-PERK, PERK, ATF4, ATF6 and GADD153/CHOP proteins were measured by Western blot analysis. Mitochondrial membrane potential was measured by fluorescence staining with JC-1, rhodamine 123. Quercetin induced the apoptosis of PANC-1, which was characterized as nucleic acid and genomic DNA fragmentation, chromatin condensation, and sub-G0/G1 fraction of cell cycle increase. But not adriamycin, cisplatin, gemcitabine, and 5-FU. PANC-1 cells were markedly sensitive to quercetin. RESULTS: Treatment with quercetin resulted in the increased accumulation of intracellular Ca2+ ion. Treatment with quercetin also increased the expression of Grp78/Bip and GADD153/CHOP protein and induced mitochondrial dysfunction. Quercetin exerted cytotoxicity against human pancreatic cancer cells via ER stress-mediated apoptotic signaling including reactive oxygen species production and mitochondrial dysfunction. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that quercetin may be an important modulator of chemosensitivity of cancer cells against anticancer chemotherapeutic agents.
Apoptosis* ; Benzimidazoles ; Blotting, Western ; Carbocyanines ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Survival ; Chromatin ; Cisplatin ; Deoxycytidine ; DNA Fragmentation ; Doxorubicin ; Drug Therapy ; Flow Cytometry ; Fluorescence ; Fluorouracil ; Humans ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Quercetin* ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Reticulum ; Rhodamine 123

BACKGROUND: This study aims to report clinical outcome and long term graft and patient survival rate of one thousand kidney transplantation. We analyzed risk factors that impact on graft survival in the 1,000 case of kidney transplantation through this study. METHODS: We have performed 1,000 cases of kidney transplantation in Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea from February 1995 to January 2008. We retrospectively reviewed medical record of recipients and donors. RESULTS: The mean follow up period was 69 months. Composition of type of donor was living donor, 653 cases and deceased donor, 347 cases. Type of donor source was mostly living-related type. 94 cases had graft failure. Major cause of graft failure was chronic allograft nephropathy. And major viral infection was cytomegalovirus infection. Major non-viral infection was urinary tract infection. 47 cases of immediate post operative complication was diagnosed as lymphocele. Overall 10-year graft survival rate was 83.9% respectively. 10-year patient survival rate was 95.7% respectively. 10-year graft survival and patient survival of recipient were significantly different between living donation group and deceased donation group. CONCLUSIONS: In this report, only two risk factor were statically significant difference.
Cytomegalovirus Infections ; Follow-Up Studies ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Transplantation ; Korea ; Living Donors ; Lymphocele ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate ; Tissue Donors ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Transplants ; Urinary Tract Infections

BACKGROUND: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the major pathogens of nosocomial infections. Especially in intensive care units (ICUs) and nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus has been known as a major risk factor of staphylococcal infections. In Korea, MRSA is the most common pathogen of nosocomial infections in ICUs. We performed this study to investigate the effects of conventional control measures and the additional effect of intranasal fusidic acid in prevention of MRSA nasal carriage and infection in ICUs of one educational hospital in Korea. METHOD: All patients admitted to medical ICU and surgical ICU in Samsung medical center from April to September 1999 were studied prospectively. Surveillance culture was done in all patients and health care workers by nasal swab culture. We tried to control MRSA infection by conventional methods in the first period April-June 1999) and by additional intranasal fusidic acid application in the second period (July-September 1999) RESULTS: Comparing the first with second periods, new nasal MRSA colonization rate among patients was significantly decreased from 14.8% to 1.8% in surgical ICU (P=0.016). Although there was no statistical difference between the first and second periods in medical ICU (14.6% vs 5.9%, P=0.192), the new nasal colonization of the first period was significantly decreased than that of the previous study which was performed in 1996 (14.6% vs 36.2%, P=0.015). And new MRSA infection rate was much more decreased than the previous study, but there was no statistical significance (11.7% vs 2.0%, P=0.066). CONCLUSION: Conventional methods for MRSA control decreased new MRSA nasal colonization of patients in ICUs. Application of intranasal fusidic acid was considered as an additional control measure for reducing MRSA nasal colonization. For evaluating effect of intranasal fusidic acid for preventing of MRSA infection in ICUs, further study with larger scale of study population is warranted.
Colon ; Cross Infection ; Delivery of Health Care ; Furosemide* ; Fusidic Acid* ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Korea ; Methicillin Resistance* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus* ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Staphylococcal Infections ; Staphylococcus aureus

Aspergillus funigatus and other pathogenic fungi synthesize a toxic epidithi-odiopiperzine (ETP) metabolite, namely gliotoxin. Gliotoxin commonly react with sulfhydryl groups, and then, forms hydrogen peroxide. These fungal toxins induce apoptotic cell death in various cells. Apoptosis induced by gliotoxin need calcium. Effect of calcium preconditioning was not reported in gliotoxin-induced apoptosis. To examine the effect of protein kinase C (PKC) and calcium which was regulate caspase-3, PKC and calcium preconditioning before gliotoxin treatment, apoptotic agents such as bcl-2 family, caspase-3 and DNA fragmentation in A7r5 cell line from rat smooth muscle cell were studied. These results showed that gliotoxin induces the expression of bad of bcl-2 family, caspase-3 activation and DNA fragmentation in A7r5 cells. Gliotoxin treatment followed by calcium and PKC preconditioning suppress the Bad of bcl-2 family, and inhibited caspase-3 activation, respectively. These results suggest that PKC and calcium preconditioning protect the gliotoxin-induced apoptosis, through the protection of pro-apoptotic bcl-2 family in A7r5 cells.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Aspergillus ; Calcium ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Death ; Cell Line ; DNA Fragmentation ; Fungi ; Gliotoxin ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Muscle, Smooth* ; Mycotoxins ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle* ; Protein Kinase C ; Rats*